How states can grow good jobs in the next economy

July 9, 2026

How states can grow good jobs in the next economy

As economic issues dominate the 2026 election cycle and structural forces rapidly reshape the economy, governors and legislators are faced with modernizing state economic development systems that were designed for an earlier era.

In a new playbook for leaders across the public, private, and civic sectors, Mayu Takeuchi and Joseph Parilla outline a series of ways that states can better partner with regional cross-sector networks to create more good jobs, stronger regional economies, and expanded pathways to economic mobility for more Americans.

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In a new video, Joseph Parilla shares examples of good job growth policies from Virginia, Indiana, and California.

Interpreting constitutional law and policy

Understanding the SCOTUS decision on birthright citizenship. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a major constitutional ruling in Trump v. Barbara reaffirming that birth on American soil confers citizenship and striking down an executive order that sought to narrow this long-standing principle. Drawing on the 14th Amendment and historical precedent, William Galston examines the court’s reasoning and the broader implications for how the nation defines citizenship.

The Declaration of Independence’s promise of equality. The ideals of equality outlined in the Declaration of Independence remain incomplete without economic opportunity. Andre Perry argues that a persistent racial wealth gap—shaped by decades of discriminatory public policy—continues to limit financial wellbeing, underscoring the need to address economic rights alongside civil rights protections.

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